ABU DHABI -- In many ways, Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix felt like the end of an era. Up and down the grid there were a number of significant departures and farewells, all of which will give the sport a different feel when it reconvenes after the winter for pre-season testing next February.
The biggest gap on the 2019 grid will be the one left by Fernando Alonso. After 18 years racing in F1, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was his 312th and final race start. Watching him chase down the final point on offer on Sunday night without success, it was all too obvious why he is bringing his F1 career to a premature end.